Mitchell Robinson did not need a coach to tell him he failed. He knew it himself after the Boston Celtics blew a 22-point lead on Tuesday night. The center finished with just three rebounds in a 121-113 loss to the Detroit Pistons. That number was far too low for a player signed to dominate the glass. Now, the first chance to fix it comes against the team he left behind. On Friday, TD Garden will host the New York Knicks for a rematch with personal stakes.
Robinson’s former teammate and close friend, Josh Hart, is ready for the fight. Hart told reporters that their time together in practice will repeat itself on Friday. “Same thing. We’re still gonna be fighting for rebounds, so it should be the same thing,” Hart told reporters, via SNY, according to Heavy.com. He knows Robinson will try to stop him because Boston uses specific defensive switches. Hart is not shy about what he plans to do if he scores. “So I can’t wait to shoot against him and when I make a couple, I’m gonna let him know,” Hart said.
A Brutal Debut for the New Center
Robinson took a hard fall during the first half against Detroit. He tweaked his left ankle and had to walk back to the bench to get checked by trainers. The injury scare ended quickly, but his performance did not improve after he returned. He only grabbed one offensive rebound while playing 18 minutes. Robinson admitted he did not meet his own high standards for physical play. He told The Boston Globe’s Gary Washburn, “I got my ass kicked on the glass.”
The loss hurt because Boston had a big lead before collapsing. Even Paul George’s 38 points could not save the game. Robinson did not use his ankle injury as an excuse for his poor play. He added, “But (expletive) happens. I just feel like I was playing fast.” The center wants to show he can still be the force Boston needed this summer.
History and the Business of Basketball
Robinson spent eight years in New York before signing with the Celtics. He helped the Knicks win the 2026 NBA championship while sitting on the bench. That success made his departure to Boston feel like a business move. The Knicks were too cost-conscious to keep him during free agency talks. Robinson said the game against his old team does not matter much to him emotionally. “It don’t really matter that much,” Robinson said, according to Yahoo Sports. “It’s more so just trying to bounce back from what happened two nights ago.”
He views the matchup like any other game. “At the end of the day, basketball is a business and we gotta play the teams like you play the other teams.” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla expects more from his new big man. “He’s a very important piece to what we do,” Mazzulla said. “So the standard is a little bit higher and the expectation is a little bit higher.” The team needs Robinson to control the paint if they want to win.
Friday Night at the Garden
The Knicks arrive in Boston looking to defend their title. Robinson must prove he can handle the physicality of the frontcourt. Detroit showed how tough they could be on the offensive glass. Boston struggled to stop them from getting second-chance points. Robinson knows he must step up immediately. Hart expects the physical battles to start the moment the game begins. “Obviously, that’s my brother. Looking forward to seeing him,” Hart said.
Robinson has a short time to get ready. He practiced on Thursday and said he feels fine despite the ankle tweak.
